More than 1.9 billion USD have already been raised for the Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases.
The declaration is a high-level, political declaration which aims to mobilise political will and secure commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) target to end NTDs in 2030, and to deliver the targets set out in the World Health Organization’s Neglected Tropical Disease Roadmap (2021-2030).
The declaration was officially launched at the Summit on Malaria, NTDs in Kigali on Thursday 23 June. It was attended by world leaders such as President Paul Kagame, Prince Charles and President Mokgweetsi Maisi of Botswana. Isdor Mopango was also present.
The summit at high level was a momentous occasion to renew commitments and to call for greater investments to end malaria, NTDs, and other diseases.
A number of institutions made key commitments to financing the fight against malaria, NTDs, and brought the total amount raised towards the Kigali declaration up to USD 1.9 million.
Pharma companies also donated drugs worth USD 18 billion to NTD patients.
Dr. Daniel Ngamije, Minister of Health, said that the Kigali Declaration was a significant milestone in the fight against NTDs.
“The declaration has already galvanized unprecedented political and financial commitment from countries and partners to deliver the WHO 2030 targets on NTDs,” he said.
NTDs are viral and parasitic bacterial diseases that mostly affect the poorest people in the world.
Common NTDs include Hookworm Infection and Human African Trypanosomiasis. Leprosy, Lymphatic Filariasis (also known as elephantiasis), Onchocerciasis. Schistosomiasis. Trachoma are some examples.
Dentsu (a UK-based multinational media company and digital marketing communications firm) contributed USD 5 million to fight malaria. Novartis, a Swiss-American multinational pharmaceutical corporation, contributed USD 250 millions to fund research and development of new anti-malarial drugs and NTD treatments over the next five year.
In his keynote address, President Kagame stressed the need for more support to end the malaria pandemic by 2030.
“This week, the commonwealth will commit to working towards ending the malaria pandemic by 2030. To make this happen, we will need your support. One key action item is to support the global fund 7th replenishing,” he said.
“Today, we are also endorsing the Kigali declaration on neglected tropical diseases, alongside the WHO’s neglected tropical diseases roadmap 2030, we have a clear action plan,” he added.
Prince Charles, in his speech, said he “very much” welcomes the Kigali Declaration on NTDs.
He said that he hoped that the summit would signal the need to prioritize funding for new therapeutic, prophylactic and vaccine strategies against Malaria.
He also said there is “wider hope” in the fight against malaria, as he pointed out some of the strides that have been made.
“We now have more valuable assets at our disposal than ever before, for example the first WHO-approved vaccine, new nets and modern communications tools to monitor our progress,” he said.
It is estimated that around 1.7 billion people are affected by NTDs.
According to WHO’s World malaria report, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020.
hkuteesa@newtimesrwanda.com
Source: rnewtimes